Broad Band Terminated Dipoles (BBTD), Tilted Terminated Fold Dipoles (T2FD) and Balanced Termination Folded Dipole BTFD) antennas can be designed to cover a large range of frequencies between 1.8 30 MHz. Longer length antennas generally provide better low frequency efficiency but take up a larger footprint of land. One BBTD that has worked well at the AK6R antenna farm is shown below. Many other designs are available and can be found at www.HFLINK.COM as well as other internet sites. Your mileage may vary using this antenna, but as a general coverage antenna for ham and shortwave broadcast, the simplicity can’t be beat even though an individual dipole on a specific band may out perform this broad band dipole. Palomar Engineers has all the parts you need to build this antenna, so why not give it a try?
Depending on the source of the antenna design, different value baluns are specified. Our Bullet(TM) baluns in ratios of 9:1, 12:1 and 16:1 are excellent for this type of antenna as they are broadband from 1.8-61 MHz and will take up to 500 watts PEP.
Feed Line Choke
Each end fed antenna needs a feed line
choke at the radio end of the coax to stop the antenna common mode
current (on the coax braid) from getting into the radio when
transmitting and also to stop RFI common mode noise when receiving. The
simplest, most cost effective choke is a ferrite ring (F240 size)
installed as shown in the picture (at the transceiver end of the coax)
Add the Feed line choke (part # EFFLC-240) for $10 to your end fed
today and stop the pesky RFI from getting into your radio and causing
audio distortion or unexpected operation!
NOTE: Coax shown in picture is NOT INCLUDED and is shown as an installation example only. If you want a pre-wound choke check part# JC-1-1500-3 or JC-1-1500-6.
For non-resonant end fed antennas placement of the choke from 16-95 feet away from the antenna feed point to use the coax braid as the counterpoise (since these antennas are really off center fed dipoles with the short side using the coax braid as the counterpoise. Wind 8-10 turns thru center for an effective 3-30 MHz choke. See Bullet Antenna configurations for exact choke placement depending upon wire length.
For End fed Half Wave antennas place 1-3 feet from antenna feed point to act as short counterpoise for these voltage fed antennas. Use 8-10 turns.
Likewise Termination Resistor values vary from 500-1250 ohms and we have a good selection shown HERE: